# Men: Do you own a suit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826 "2008-01-09T04:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/21 "2008-01-09T05:44:16Z")
I have at least two or three, one of which may not fit so well any more. And a tux. But it’s been more than 11 years since I’ve had to wear jacket/tie/suit to work on a daily basis (I work from home now), so my suits only get worn half a dozen days a year, if that. And the tux has seen the light of day only half a dozen times in the last decade. But I look _damn good_ in it! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/22 "2008-01-09T05:48:15Z")
I need a new suit. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/23 "2008-01-09T05:48:20Z")
Wow that is a lot less suits that I would have thought. I have 3 suits as in pants and jackets that go together. Plus a few blazers. These are generally worn to special occasions for work I go in jeans and a shirt. How old are you guys? I cannot think of a time since high school where I did not have a suit. It just seems something that a man should have. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/24 "2008-01-09T05:50:27Z")
My father: Yes. Parents like to go on cruises, perfect for formal dinner. Weddings funerals etc he’s ready. Wears painters pants and tshirts to work and flannel and jeans rest of the time. My Boyfriend (age 23): Yes. Bought it for a career fair in college, worn it multiple times. Doesn’t have to go above and beyond jeans for work. Wore it to a wedding we attended together - looked very hot. All my male friends (ages 21-22) - Don’t have suits but have variety of dress pants, nice ties, and jackets. Most don’t have suits because they can’t afford the ones they’d like to have and have plenty of nice things to pull out for occasions. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/25 "2008-01-09T05:51:13Z")
All my guy friends are in their mid to late 20s, and at one point or another I have seen them all wearing a suit. I admit, I assumed that all guys have at least one suit in their closet, but I suppose it might be just the people I hang out with. I have one friend who absolutely loathes wearing suits, but even he puts one on for weddings and funerals. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/26 "2008-01-09T05:51:26Z")
If a man owns two suits, one of them is black or charcoal or a dark enough blue that he was persuaded by a salesman under fluorescents that it could pass for black: the other is a very old 3-button with narrow chalk pinstripes and a vest crumpled up at the bottom of his closet. If these rules don’t apply, he’s either over sixty or under fifteen, and good luck to you both. If you _really_ want to humiliate your male relatives and acquaintances, and their dates, host a pool party. Spend half the shower money on clean towels and ice for the pool. Spend the rest on pushers. Save a hundred for the kid who keeps _your_ drink topped up and safe. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/27 "2008-01-09T05:52:03Z")
I don’t own any suits. The reason is really I don’t have any occasion to wear one. In all the special occasions you’d think you need a suit (weddings, job interviews, fancy dinners) virtually no one will have a suit either. I remember when I went to my coworkers’ wedding in a sports coat and felt overdressed because even the wedding party wore just ties and dress shirts. I work at a toxicology lab in Tacoma; I don’t know whether men dress better in other parts of the country. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/28 "2008-01-09T06:19:51Z")
… and yet again I find this place utterly unpredictable. I’ve slowly and carefully bought suits during my working and social career and even after culling for Goodwill every couple of years still have a couple of dozen altogether, enough to at least have a reasonable choice come whatever wedding, funeral, business meeting, charitable event, etc. I don’t believe that among the larger populace this is anything unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/29 "2008-01-09T06:21:19Z")
Yes. I wear suits every day to work, so I have quite a few. Plus my dinner suit. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/30 "2008-01-09T06:30:01Z")
Long before my husband even thought of attending law school, when he was still a wage slave with hair to his ass, he had a suit for attending functions. It’s a thoroughly atrocious suit, but it did the job. He married me in it (we eloped but felt we should still dress up a bit). Now he’s in law school and we’re up to our ears in suits and ties. He bought three this summer, then I got suit envy and got one for myself. I need it for interviews anyways, I suck at wearing skirts. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/31 "2008-01-09T06:30:32Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] All my guy friends are in their mid to late 20s, and at one point or another I have seen them all wearing a suit. I admit, I assumed that all guys have at least one suit in their closet, but I suppose it might be just the people I hang out with. [/quote] Yes, the first point does not necessarily prove the second - if you see a young guy at a wedding/funeral/etc., it’s quite possible he’s borrowed a suit for the occassion. > [@](#): > > I have one friend who absolutely loathes wearing suits, but even he puts one on for weddings and funerals. I don’t necessarily dislike wearing them, I find it a convenient way to dress for work which takes zero effort or thought. Which meant that when I was going to a wedding recently, I decided: “_No, I am not wearing a suit or a tie. That is for Work. That is now School Uniform._”. I bought a rather nice casual jacket instead. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/32 "2008-01-09T06:34:14Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] I have one friend who absolutely loathes wearing suits, but even he puts one on for weddings and funerals. [/QUOTE] I’m not very comfortable in suits, but I’m far more comfortable than I would be if I were suitless at an event where suits were expected. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/33 "2008-01-09T06:37:39Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] I wore out my last suit, and didn’t replace it yet. I have several sports-jackets-and-ties combos and wear them regularly to work - they’re necessary both at the office and when I’m in court. [/QUOTE] You can wear sports jackets to court? Damn, I’ve been killing myself with suits! Yes, I own suits. Very nice ones, actually; and I do wear them to court when I speak for clients. Also shirts and ties. Maybe I need more experience in courts, but I do find that while clients like the “t-shirt and jeans” in private conferences, they also appreciate the “suit and tie” when I’m speaking for them in court. **Northern Piper** , any advice you can give me in this area would be much appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/34 "2008-01-09T06:38:51Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] Yes. I wear suits every day to work, so I have quite a few. Plus my dinner suit. [/QUOTE] I should have added that I had to wear a suit and tie (and boater!) to school every day, so I’ve been accustomed to wearing suits for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/35 "2008-01-09T06:47:30Z")
I have 4 suits. Every man should have a suit or two. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/36 "2008-01-09T06:48:46Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] I should have added that I had to wear a suit and tie (and boater!) to school every day, so I’ve been accustomed to wearing suits for a long time. [/QUOTE] With all due respect, Cunctator, having been a passenger on various Australian public transit systems, school uniforms on Australian public transit always struck me as a way to differentiate those who paid for a seat (like me) from those who were expected to get up and allow folks like me to have a seat. (Like, presumably, you in your school uniform.) While I’m sure the uniform fulfills other duties, is this the case? And if so, how did you feel about that? FTR, I went to high school in Toronto, where Granny could have a seat if she got on at the end of the line, and if she had to stand because high school students were occupying seats; well, tough noogies Granny (unless one of us gave up our seat to her). ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/37 "2008-01-09T06:57:56Z")
I have two. Both are hand-me-downs from the bf, and neither fits very well. I’m going suit-shopping before pharmacy school interviews, but I have to wait for College Christmas first. (one more week until loan check time!) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/38 "2008-01-09T07:20:35Z")
It might be different on the other side of the pond, but over here I think it’s pretty de rigeur for a chap to have at least one here, for weddings and funerals if nothing else. Since I have to wear a suit for work, I too have slowly been building up a collection since I was 24. I now have six suits - and a dead guy’s tux. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/39 "2008-01-09T07:25:56Z")
I own one true suit. It doesn’t look like anyone else’s. I am totally not going to be some Brook Brothers clone. \. 99.99% of male apparel looks like shit. I mostly go around in blue jeans and t shirt. But if I’m going to bother to dress up, it’s going to be nice. I’m not filthy rich, so I didn’t employ a designer or anything, I just bought an off-the-rack Dunhill smoking jacket and had it altered to make it overlap higher up and adjusted (darted) the fabric accordingly, and paired it with \ pants in conventional dress-pants wool but with the cut, including the pockets, made like blue jeans (horizontal pocket openings, not vertical; etc). I have burgundy and goldenrod dress shirts that go well with it. I don’t do ties. I have a pair of rather nice (if noisy) oxblood dress shoes, smooth uppers, mildly decorative whatchamacallem accentuations on the sides, hard soles. Soft wide black leather belt. Gold pocket watch. Way long hair with natural grey highlights (finally!). Decently skinny again. Everything fits taut, no bunching, comfy. Damn, but real clothes can get expensive! Someday I’ll get a second suit, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826/40 "2008-01-09T07:39:56Z")
No suit, no tie. Different culture… I **like** living in a country where I can show up to a wedding in dockers and a semi-nice button-down shirt and feel well dressed! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-own-a-suit/432826.md?page=3)